To audio or not to audio?

[Jenny, honorary mod - inactive]

I'm very tempted to get my favourite books in audio. What do people think of audio books?

Fancied getting Memoirs of a Geisha, but listening to a sample on itunes the lady reading it sounded like a robot :(

[Beth]

I've tried a couple of times to listen to audio books but I just can't seem to get into them. Maybe I could in the car, when I'm by myself? I think I just have to hold a book in my hands to have a true reading experience.

[Terri]

Hi Jenny!
I've never 'done' an audio book before, but yesterday I downloaded A Christmas Carol from i-tunes. It was £1.95 so it felt rude not to! So I shall give it a go in December and see how I get on. The Blokey reading it sounds very posh!

Interested to hear other views though. I'm not sure I'll like it as I like to lose myself in a book and use my imagination ... not sure if I'll be able to do that as much with an audio.

[Jenny, honorary mod - inactive]

Yeh I was thinking it'd be in the car on a long journey. I drive home to south wales every few months and the drive takes 6 and a half hours. I get bored of music so thought an audio book could work. I think it will have a lot to do with the narrator as to whether I'll enjoy it or not. I also only see myself listening to books I've already read as I'd hate to ruin the reading experience.

[Jenny, honorary mod - inactive]

Just bought my first audio book. Pride and Prejudice read by Lindsay Duncan, cost me £4.95 from itunes. There was a cheaper one but the lady reading it sounded annoying :P I love this book and want to read it again, but there are so many books on my tbr list that I can't see myself getting round to it. So I'm going to give the audio a go :)

[Jaime]

Never could get into listening to audiobooks. I really have given it a good couple of shots but each time my mind wanders. I wish it didn't because they are great for long car rides. My husband listens to them all the time. I get annoyed when I'm in the car with him and he wants to listen to one though. I know it's not nice of me, but I want to talk!!

[Dorottya]

I'm not a fan of audiobooks. I'm pretty sure my mind would wander off loads and I would have to rewind every 5 minute or so.

[Stuart]

Dorottya wrote: "I'm not a fan of audiobooks. I'm pretty sure my mind would wander off loads and I would have to rewind every 5 minute or so."

I must admit I largely second that. If you factor in the price then I think there are more cons than pros.

[Laura]

I love audiobooks. They've changed my life, in that they make doing chores, cooking, driving even showering so much more enjoyable. I love them and am totally hooked on them. They make good books even better.

[Janice, Moderator]

I love audiobooks too. I was a little leery at first so I listened to a well loved favourite first, and was hooked. A good narrator can enhance the story. I'm currently listening to The Blade Itself, narrated by Steven Pacey. He had me giggling out loud as he read the lines from a couple of drunk characters.

I pay about $12.00 an audiobook by signing up for one of Audible.com's plans. Now that I'm a member, I can participate in their sales which reduces the price even more. Plus, I can borrow them from my library.

[Dawn]

I love audiobooks too. Almost exclusively for commuting or occasionally at work, I've tried at home but my mind wanders and I miss important stuff.

I get all mine for free from the library so far and I'm on my third year of listening. I listen to about 40 a year and I have enough for at least 1 more year free before I start looking into buying them.

[Dawn]

Are the sales really good with Audible Janice?? I've started doing a little research into prices and I need them to be a little cheaper yet before I can afford the amount of audiobooks I go through in a year.

[Janice, Moderator]

Dawn wrote: "Are the sales really good with Audible Janice?? I've started doing a little research into prices and I need them to be a little cheaper yet before I can afford the amount of audiobooks I go through..."

In order to get the sales, you have to be a member, which means that you need to sign up for one of their programs. I'm on Gold annual, which gives me 12 credits for around $145.00 US. (One credit = one book.) Platinum Annual gives you 24 credits and it costs around $230.00 US. They have 2 for 1 sales (Buy two books for one credit), 3 for 2 sales, $4.95 sales. Plus they have a Daily Deal which is $4.95 or less.

[Janice, Moderator]

Oh, and check out SYNC's annual free downloads - 2 audiobooks a week for the summer. Here's the schedule:

http://www.audiobooksync.com/sync-sch...

[Dawn]

Janice wrote: "Oh, and check out SYNC's annual free downloads - 2 audiobooks a week for the summer. Here's the schedule:

http://www.audiobooksync.com/sync-sch..."

That must have been mentioned somewhere before because there is a couple of those I'm waiting to download. :)

Thanks for the info, with the extra sales Audible might be worth it.

[Laura]

I agree with Janice. I'm a Platinum member, and with the sales and daily deal, it is definitely worth it. Another idea is to maybe split the membership with someone else and share the 24 credits between you. I believe it works out to $9.95 per book before considering the sales. By using the library and digital downloads, I expect the 24 credits to last me two years.

[Dawn]

I, unfortunately, am the only person I know who listens to audiobooks so the sharing option is out.
I don't mind buying them but want my average price to be less than the Platinum membership offers. With 2 for 1 and a few sales though...I should be able to justify it to myself. :)

[Laura]

Amen! :))